Read LopVampa :: Part 2: Time Erosion Zone

Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga.

Shuttle racing through the dirt at lightning speed, the farmer gazed at the world around him for a brief moment. Frosaro already far behind him, the bun wondered. Just what would be waiting for him in the Driasm? How in the world had it become stuck in a frozen state? Why wasn't anyone doing anything about it? But, another thought soon ate the rest of them up one after another.

What if Emeralbu froze time there? Shaking his head, a rejection stamp had been placed over such idea. Why would that be the case here?! There was no way that was possible! Unless, Emeralbu was the godbun that controlled time? No, of course that wasn't the case here, why would it be? That couldn't have possibly been the case here.

Studying the view off in the distance, the young adult squinted at the sight from afar. Grey world looking rather out of place, the farmer closed his eyes. Wait a second, hold on. Is that really the Driasm in the distance? Why does it feel like it's out of this world? No, no, there's no way that's the case here! Why would it be?

Driasm echoing once more, the bun tried to recall to the best of his ability. Had he ever learned about this area when he was still in school? Blanks drawing themselves everywhere, the bun shrugged. Nope, nothing is coming to him. What was this place, some secret godbun hideout? Maybe it had been. Ah, great, wonderful, he's going to be in so much trouble now! But, a voice soon threw him back into reality.

"Sorry to ask this, but I was just wondering," Mellem said out loud. "How was the Mystic Carrot Bowl this year. Was it, you know?" She then lowered her voice into a whisper.

"If you mean to ask if it was fixed from the beginning, you should probably know the answer to that," Niquel said, arms crossed.

"I suppose I do, sorry, I was just thinking. I heard many of the godbuns were watching this year, I can't help but wonder why," Mellem responded.

Mystic Carrot Bowl brought to his attention, the bun pulled his ears down. Please, can they not talk about that nonsense? He knows, he gets it, the Mystic Carrot Bowl was rigged! Can every single bun just pretend it was a figment of their imaginations or something? That would be nice right about now! Yeah, right, as if that would ever happen. Go on, keep talking about it until time freezes here, too, while they're at it! No, no, come on, Siorc, now's hardly the time be sarcastic. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!

"Can we talk about something else?" Zhulong said, eyes wandering. "I don't think Siorc wants to hear that name right now."

"My apologies, then, I'll move on," Mellem responded. "I guess my next question would be, what now? After we head to Driasm, what do you plan to do next?"

Question racing his way once more, the young adult cracked his knuckles. What's next? What kind of question is that? The farm is waiting for him! There's no way he's going to continue to be the god's little plaything! Talkmaster B out in front of him, he turned the knobs with a rapid fury. Here goes. Please, let this be legible.

[I'm going back to my farm, of course. Why are you asking?] A crackling voice asked through the Talkmaster B's speakers.

"Sorry, am I asking too many questions?" Mellem asked. "I'll stop if I am." But, the noise soon continued.

"Siorc, are you sure you want to resume farm work after all this?" Zhulong asked in a serious tone. "You remember what the Godbuns said to you. Knowing them, they mean it."

"Wait, what did they say to him?" Mellem asked. "Sorry for butting in."

Conversation from the other day rushing through him, the bun resisted the urge to punch the empty seat next to him. The godbuns will make him their plaything thrice over. What do they intend to make him do now? He doesn't have the foggiest of an idea. Can everyone talk about anything else, please?

[Can we stop talking about this please?! I'm returning to the farm, and that's that.] A crackling voice said through the Talkmaster B's speakers.

"Okay, I'll stop, sorry," Mellem apologized. "Besides, we're almost there now. Prepare yourselves, this is about to get messy." She then took a deep breath. "I'm about to make the shuttle do a Super Turn! Get ready, you three!"

Vroom, vroom, vroom.

World around him shaking, the bun clung to the seat next to him. Wait a second, hold on, just a moment, what's happening?! Ears growing ice cold, the young adult closed his eyes. Something is not right here, what's going on? Shuttle turning every which way, the young adult clung down harder. The world is spinning, twisting, turning, repeating, reversing.

Sparks flying from corner to corner, doom loomed over the vampa's shoulder. The shuttle, is it going to crash? Ah, no, don't think that, come on now! It'll be fine, right, of course. Take a deep breath, Siorc, take a deep breath. Chest growing tight, the white flag had been waved. Serenity was a dead bun out in the burning fields.

Screech, screech, screech, screech.

We are approaching the Time Erosion Zone.

Don't move, don't move. Stay put, stay put.

Zap, zap, zap.

Sparks flying, the young adult stayed put. What's going to happen to him? Maybe it would be best to turn around. But, it was too late for that now, wasn't it? Of course it was, what was he thinking? Closing his eyes, the bun steeled himself. Any minute now, and he would be in a whole new world. Or, would he be? Who knows?

Bam.

We have reached the Time Erosion Zone.

Warning, Warning, Paragons From Yesterday Are Approaching.

Paragons From Yesterday Are Approaching!

Eliminate, Eliminate!

Booted out of the shuttle, the bun gazed at the world around him. Large, cold grey rocky bed that looked like shattered glass, the bun's knees buckled. What is this place, why does it feel like it's been cut off from the rest of Lagozora? But, as he thought such, a disturbing sound buzzed from up above.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

"Intruders spotted," a robotic voice shouted.

"Eliminate all obstacles who dare tread upon this holy land!" Click.

Large robots with heads of a spineladybug and body of a mintmeow, the bun hopped back. What are these things? Creatures towering over him, the vampa froze. Ah, no, are they the gatekeepers? And, what's this about the holy land? This is bad, very bad! He's so going to be smashed into pieces any second now!

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.

"Eliminate all obstacles!" The creature shouted.

"Initiating stinger protocol!" The creature shouted.

Ambee stingers raining down every which way, the bun hopped back. Why are there so many?! He has to hurry and duck for cover now! Lowering himself onto his knees, a shield had soon been above him. Downpour of terror clanging against his defenses, the world grew sticky. Is this not going to be enough? He's done for, he's finished!

"I should have known there would be Paragons From Yesterday here," Mellem sighed. "Everyone, we have to get rid of these things kick before it's too late!"

"It's fine, I'll take care of them," Zhulong exclaimed, flapping upward. "Take this, monsters from another plane, I've got a sweet deal for you!"

Large coin tossed towards the enemies, the vampa swore he could hear a chilling laugh off in the distance. Did he hear what he thought he heard just now? No, no, of course he didn't, come on now! He has to focus on the fight here, right. Cracking his knuckles, the bun floated upward. Left earring bladed out and ready to go, he locked eyes with the head. It's time to make some mechanical craniums roll.

Sharp edges gifted to the creature's head, the farmer prepared himself for the next round. Does this thing think their pesky little protocols are enough to stop him? Think again! He's got defenses to last for centuries! Critter sparking up at the edges, the blade did its duty once more. The time has come to get rid of this mess here once and for all!

Or, so the vampa thought. Creature's head twisting, the bun swore that something changed. Large gear about ready to twist into him, the bun flapped backwards. What is that thing? Where's it coming from? One wrong move, and those weapons are going to squish him into nothing! He needs to hurry and bounce them back towards the enemy right here, right now.

"Mellem, what's the quickest way to eliminate the Paragons From Yesterday?" Niquel asked between attacks. She then clicked her tongue. "They keep regenerating. I can't keep up with this."

"Don't worry about defeating them, I have the last resort ready," Mellem said.

"That last resort?" An eyebrow was rose.

"Yup, so don't worry, when the time comes, I'll use the last resort. Keep going until it's time!" She pointed.

Coins and other knickknacks tossed every which way, the young adult leaped closer towards the enemy. Paragons From Yesterday, it's about time they get taken out of this joint once and for all! Take this! Backside given a nice long slice, the bun crossed his fingers. Please, let this be enough to finally end this once and for all.

Creatures staggering twice over, the bun huffed a breath. Is it finally about to be over? Please, let this be the end of the road for these fiends! Everyone turning towards Mellem, words had come his way to move back. Racing off towards the distance, an engine had been revved up before he could even blink.

"Alright, here goes nothing, it's time for the last resort," Mellem cried. "Shuttle, do your thing!"

Blinding light engulfing the vehicle in the corner, the young adult's jaw dropped at the sight before him. Shuttle standing upright like it was some kind of pilotable robot, the bun pinched himself. Is he dreaming right now? No, of course he isn't. Punches fired one after another, the fiends were nothing more than scrap metal in the span of a moment.

"Phew, that should take care of that," Mellem said, huffing a weak breath. "Sorry, could you please give me a sec? My powers are." She paused for a moment. "Ugh, my head hurts."

Studying the world around him for a moment longer, the bun placed his finger on his chin. Where could Emeralbu be hiding? Maybe it would be best to leave this place behind? No, no, he's already come this far, there's no way he can turn around now! Taking a deep breath, the bun prepared himself for the next round of whatever.

Snap.

Strange glass coming from who knows where in the blink of an eye, the bun turned off towards Mellem. Just what are her powers exactly? He doesn't know, but they felt like they were out of this world. Was Flirty Bunny some sort of disguise she was wearing to hide her true divine name? No, why would that be the case here? He needs to hop out of imagination land right now!

"That should block out the rest," Mellem said, huffing a weak breath. "If I were you, I'd head for the Cave From Eras Long Gone now before it's too late." She dropped down onto her knees as she said such. "Please, now, I can't hold them off much longer!"

"Which way do we have to go?" Niquel asked.

"Keep going north until you reach a fork in the road," Mellem responded, huffing. "Once you've reached that point, you'll be knocked out, but that's normal here, I promise. Now, go before the swarm gets you!"

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz!

Buzzing racket only getting louder, the bun hopped like his life depended on it. Any second now, and those mechanical things are going to do him in! He has to hurry and reach the fork in the road before it's too late! Glass about ready to crack from every angle imaginable, the party of three sped up their jumping speed. The end is near, he can't falter now!

Crack, crack, crack, crack, crackle.

"Looks like we're going to have more to deal with here," Zhulong said, eyes closed. "The fork in the road is this way. Siorc, if I were you, I'd leap now."

Legs soon stretched, the young adult took the leap of faith. Glass cases looking about ready to shatter into nothingness, the bun let out a scream. Here it is, the fork in the road, the last bastion. Splitting pathway about ready to take him for a prize, an intense wave of dizziness soon took over him. Everything going dark, one last thought clung to him as unconsciousness was ready to take the bun alive.

This time, for sure, he'll get that redo!